GAMSTOP reveals increase in requests to end self-exclusion during Covid-19 lockdown
CEO Fiona Palmer concerned that vulnerable customers will spend money on gambling while forced to stay at home
UK national self-exclusion scheme GAMSTOP has reported a rise in calls from consumers seeking to end their voluntary self-exclusion periods from online gambling sites early due to the coronavirus lockdown.
However, individuals registered with the scheme are prevented from leaving the scheme early for their own protection.
Following an increase in requests, GAMSTOP CEO Fiona Palmer has urged individuals concerned about their gambling during the Covid-19 pandemic to voluntarily self-exclude from all UK gambling sites.
“We are concerned that, at a time when so many people are being forced to stay at home during the coronavirus, vulnerable consumers who may have an issue with their gambling might be tempted to spend money they do not have on online gambling,” Palmer said.
“Our focus is to help people take that first step and register with GAMSTOP rather than putting it off whilst the country is in lockdown,” she added.
Over 130,000 individuals have registered with GAMSTOP since the scheme went live in April 2018, with 73% of sign-ups opting to self-exclude for the maximum period available of five years.
The scheme has also revealed nine out of 10 consumers who choose to self-exclude for a shorter period have not re-registered with gambling sites at the end of this period, keeping the self-exclusion automatically active.
Participation in the GAMSTOP scheme has become a mandatory licensing requirement for UK operators with effect from today after the scheme passed all Gambling Commission requirements in February.
Questions had previously been raised as to whether individuals could circumvent the scheme by changing a few personal details.
Individuals signing up to the scheme can elect to self-exclude for six months, one year or five years, with the self-exclusion coming into effect after 24 hours.